Because the muscles, ligaments, bones, discs and nerves that comprise your spinal column are so interconnected, it's often difficult to determine without a comprehensive exam and X-rays, exactly what the cause of your pain may be.

Also, an injury or stress in one area, can lead to additional problems in a kind of "domino effect." For instance, a simple muscle strain may cause you to compensate by carrying your weight differently which can lead to an overall imbalance in the spine or strain on different muscles creating additional problems.